Rolling disc gate



June 29, 1965 H. P. LERwlcK ETAL 3,191,381

ROLLING DISC GATE Filed Jan. 5, 1962 United States Patent O 3,191,381 ROLLING DISC GATE Howard I. Lerwick and William N. Engel, Indianapolis,

Ind., assignors to The Buehler Corporation, Indianapolis, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Filed Ian. 5, 1962, Ser. No. 164,481 4 Claims. (Cl. 60-35.54)

The present invention relates to jet propelled watercraft and more particularlyto means for controlling the direction of such craft.

One form of water jet propelled boat incorporates an engine arranged to drive a pump located within a conduit through the boat. Water moves into the conduit through an intake opening at the bottom of the boat, is forced through the conduit by the pump and is exhausted in a stream from the rear of the boat whereby the boat moves through the water. In order to move theboat rearwardly or to retain position, the stream of water maybe defiected as it leaves the rear of the boat in such a manner as to cause the stream or a portion thereof to fiowl forwardly beneath the boat. Various relatively efficient devices have been conceived for carrying out this purpose but have been found to have the disadvantage that sand and stones tend to jam the devices and render them inoperable.

Consequently, one object of the present invention is to provide a jet boat direction control which is highly resistant to jamming by sand, stones and the like.

A further object of the present invention is to provide improved means for controlling the direction of movement of a jet boat. V

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a jet boat direction control which uses less material in the component parts thereof and is, therefore, less expensive than presently available direction control apparatus of this type.

Related objects will become apparent as the description proceeds.

One embodiment of the present invention includes a direction control system comprising a conduit mounted on a watercraft, said conduit including a wall generally perpendicular to the conduit. An exit is formed through the wall in registry `with the conduit. AThere is provided means for pumping water through the conduit toward the exit. A flat circular gate isreceived within the conduit and may be moved across the wall to various positions by means of an arm rotatably and loosely connected to the gate at the central axis of its circular conguration. The arm may be moved to move the gate to positions wherein the gate uncovers, partially covers and completely covers the opening in the wall. l g

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims.

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a jet boat incorporating the novel direction control of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal vertical, enlarged section of the rearward portion of FIG. 1 showing in detail the direction control ofthe present invention.

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken along the line 3 3 of FIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the apparatus in a different operating position.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIGS. 3 and 4 of an alternative embodimentof the present invention.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is illustrated a jet boat having a hull 11, the hull being provided with an intake opening 12 communicating between the bottom of the boat and a pump 13. The pump 13 has a passage therethrough communicating between the intake opening 12 and a passage 15 through a tail- 3,191,381 Patented June 29, 1965 lCC pipe 16 secured to the rear of the boat. The pump 13 is driven by a conventional marine engine 17 through shaft 13 and functions to pump water from the intake 12 to and out of the rear of the boat. The water is formed into a jet stream by the converging surface 20 of an annular member 21 fixed within the passage 15.

Fixed to the tailpipe 16 is a housing 22, one function of which is to contain a gate or plate 25 which Ais movable within the vertically extending opening 26 in the housing to various positions. The gate 25 has a circular configuration as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 and is loosely and rotatably mounted upon an arm 27. In the present embodiment, this mounting is accomplished by means of a shouldered screw 30 which is threaded into the gate at the axis 31 of its circular configuration. The arm 27 has, at its distal end, an elongated slot 32 through which is loosely received the enlarged central portion 35 of the screw 30. The diameter of the enlarged portion 35 is slightly less than the width of the slot 32 so that the gate 25 can be canted or tilted to a certain degree with relation to the arm 27.

The proximal end of the arm 27 is fixed to a shaft 36 which extends through the housing 22 into the boat and is connected to suitable control apparatus whereby the arm 27 may be pivoted through a vertical path between the positions illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 and to further intermediate positions.

The housing 22 has a forward opening 37 through its forward wall 40 and a rearward opening 41 through its rearward wall 42, both of said openings 37 and 41 being in registry with the opening through the annular jet forming member 21. When the gate 25 is moved to the position of FIG. 4, the water being pumped through the member 21 is free to exit through the openings 37 and 41 in a direction rearward of the boat whereby forward motion of the boat is produced.

The housing 22 also functions to provide a pivotal mounting for a pair of deflector plates 45 which are used Vfor deliecting the stream of Water passing through the opening 41 for steering the boat. The plates 45-are each pivotal about a vertical axisvprovided by suitable shafts extending through projections 46 extending rearwardly from the housing 22, the plates 45 being positioned on opposite sides of the stream of water. In order to turn the boat in one direction, one of the plates 45 is pivoted into the stream by means of a steering quadrant 47 pivotally mounted on the housing 22 by means of a shaft 50 positoned directly between the pivotal mountings of the deflector plates. The quadrant 47 has a pair of depending elements 51 located outside of the deector plates and arranged to pivot one or the other of the plates inwardly when the quadrant 47 is pivoted. The quadrant may be pivoted by suitable steering mechanism within the boat which is operatively associated with a steering line 52 received within a groove 55 in the steering quadrant.

A The housing 22 has formed thereon a downwardly and lforwardly curved deflector 56. The gate 25 is movable by means of the arm 27 to the position of FIGS. 2 and 3 wherein the gate complet-ely blocks the ow of the stream of Water from the annular member 21. The upward portion of the housing 22 is completely sealed off and, therefore, the water being pumped through the member 21 must pass downwardly through an opening 57 in the lower end of the housing, this opening facing in a direction generally forwardly of the boat. The boat has a flat element 60 secured to the lower end of its transom 61 and flush with the bottom 62 of the boat `and the upper edge 65 of the opening 57, this flat element preferably being at an angle to the horizontal less than that shown. However, even an rangle as great as that shown and possibly a greater angle is operable. Because of the downwardly'and forwardly curving surace 66 of the deiiector 56, the water from th-e pump moves downwardly and is exhausted in a generally parallel direction to the (flat element 60 and passes beneath the boat causing it to move rearwardly.

The gate 25 is movable to various other positions in-v termediate of the positions of FIGS. 3 and 4. In one such intermediate position, the thrust from the pump is divided in such a manner as to maintain the boat stationary. When the gate is in such a position, a certain percentage of water from the pump passes through the cylindrical opening 41 rearwardly between the deilect-or plates 45, The remaining water from the pump passes d-ownwardly and is guided by the deflector 56 to produce aV thrust acting to move the boat rearwardly, t-hus equalizing the forward .thrust produced by the water passing through the aperture 41.

It should be understood that the deflectors 45 can be used to steer the craft or to pivot it about a central vertical axis whenever any portion of the water passes through the aperture 41. Thus, if the craft is making no forward movement or is moving slowly rearwardly as a result of a portion of the water being deected beneath the craft, the deiiectors may be used for steering.

A primary advantage of the present invention is its ability to resist jamming as a result of sand, stones and the like entering into the housing 22. It can be appreciated that such a condition might result from sand being pumped into the inlet 12 by the pump 13 and passing rearwardly into the housing through the passage 1S. It |will be noted that the gate 25 is rotatably mounted upon the arm 27. Thus, if a large stone should become lodged between the gate and one or the other of the sidewalls 67 of the housing 22, the gate is free to be jiggled and rotated by manipulation of the arm 27 through the shaft 36. The circular configuration of the gate aid-s in the removal of such stones and of sand as does the loose mounting of the gate upon the a-rm 27.

The sidewalls 67 of the housing v22 are spaced suiiciently closely with relation to one another that even though the gate may engage one or the other of the sidewalls when in the vertical position of FIG. 3, the rearward opening 41 of the housing is still covered.

Referring to FIG. 5, an alternative embodiment of the invention is disclosed which is identical to the above described embodiment with the exception that `the arm 27 is replaced by an arm 70 which extends vertically upwardly from its connection with the gate through the top wall 71 .of the housing 22'. The arm 70 is provided with la slot 72 similar in shape to the slot 32 and having a greater width than the diameter of the enlarged portion 35 of the screw 30 so that a loose mounting of the gate upon the arm is effected similarly to the above described embodiment. The opening through the top of the housing 22 is in close tolerance with the arm 7i) and is suitably sealed to prevent any substantial amount of water from leaking therethrough. In other respects, the embodiment of FIG. is identical to the above `described embodiment, It should be mentioned that the embodiment of FIG. 5 Would permit easy conversion from .conventional gatesbecause such conventional gates are provid-ed with means, hydraulic or otherwise, for raising and lowering the gate, said means being mounted on the top of the gate housing.

It `should be noted that the .rearward wall 42 of the housing 22 is generally perpendicular to the ow of water through the passage `15 and annular member 21. For this reason, the movement of the gate to its various operating positions yis relatively easy and does not have to be made against hydraulic pressures, it being understood that the loosely mounted gate moves across the surface of the wall 42.

From the above descrip-tion, it will be obvious that the present invention provides an improved jet boat direction control .which is highly resistant to jamming by sand, stones and similar debris. It will also be clear that because of the relatively small and simple contiguration of the gate, it is easy and inexpensive to manufacture.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in t-he drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative .and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims are also desired to be protected.

The invention claimed is:

`1. In jet boat valve and valve operating means including a conduit having a wall, said conduit having an exit opening through said wall, means for pumping water through said conduit toward said exit, and a ilat gate received within said conduit, said gate being of larger size than said opening and being in close adjacency and gener-ally parallel to said wall, the improvement which comprises an arm loosely and rotatably mounting said gate centrally thereof `for movement across said wall while in such parallel closely adjacent relation thereto to and from a position covering said exit opening, said gate being free to roll and rotate :and to cant land tilt relative to said arm and conduit to avoid obstructions when said gate moves to and from said position.

y2. In jet boat valve and valve operating means including a conduit having a wall generally perpendicular to the conduit, said conduit having an exi-t opening through said wall, and means for pumping water through said conduit toward said exit, the improvement which comprises a flat circular gate received Within said conduit, said gate being of larger size than said opening and being in close adjacency and generally parallel to said wall, and an arm rotatably mounting said gate at the axis of thecircular shape thereof 4for movement across said wall while in such parallel closely adjacent relation thereto to and from a position covering said exit opening, said gate being free to roll and rotate about its axis and to cant and tilt relative to said arm and conduit to avoid obstructions when said gate moves to and from said position.

3. The device of cla-im 2 in which said conduit further includes guide surfaces perpendicular to said Wall, said surfaces loosely receiving said gate therebetween and guiding said gate for proper positioning thereof over said exit opening. c

4. The device of claim 2 in which a fastener secures said gate to said arm, said fastener having an enlarged head and extending through the distal end of said arm and iixed Ito said circular gate at the center thereof, said arm having an aperture receiving said fastener, said aperture being of larger size than said fas-tener whereby said fastener is loosely yreceived in said aperture.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 141,039 7/73 Dow 60-35.54 359,952 3/87 Archer 60--35.54 I1,609,565 12/26l yM'cFarl-an 251-301 1,810,621 v6/ 31 Parks 137-2433 '2,356,990' 8/44 Getz 251-301 X 2,889,117 6/59' Wimpress Z39-507 3,047,006 7/62 Transeau 137-243 Y 3,071,101 1/63 Basso 115 12 IULIUS E. WEST, Primary Examiner.

EDGAR W. GEOGHEGAN, Examiner. 

1. IN A JET BOAT VALVE AND VALVE OPERATING MEANS INCLUDING A CONDUIT HAVING A WALL, SAID CONDUIT HAVING AN EXIT OPENING THROUGH SAID WALL, MEANS FOR PUMPING WATER THROUGH SAID CONDUIT TOWARD SAID EXIT, AND A FLAT GATE RECEIVED WITHIN SAID CONDUIT, SAID GATE BEING OF LARGER SIZE THAN SAID OPENING AND BEING IN CLOSE ADJACENCY AND GENERALLY PARALLEL TO SAID WALL, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES AN ARM LOOSELY AND ROTATABLY MOUNTING SAID GATE CENTRALLY THEREOF FOR MOVEMENT ACROSS SAID WALL WHILE IN SUCH PARALLEL CLOSELY ADJACENT RELATION THERETO TO AND FROM A POSITION COVERING SAID EXIT OPENING, SAID GATE BEING FREE TO ROLL AND ROTATE AND TO CANT AND TILT RELATIVE TO SAID ARM AND CONDUIT TO AVOID OBSTRUCTIONS WHEN SAID GATE MOVES TO AND FROM SAID POSITION. 